Arts Education Partnership Releases New Guide to Data
From Chris Sweatt, Director of Arts Education
The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) has released a new Arts Education Guide to Data, designed to help arts educators, organizations and community-based programs use data more effectively to strengthen their work.
Created by AEP’s Data Working Group, the guide offers a practical introduction for individuals who may not consider themselves data experts. It explains how data can help organizations improve programs, communicate impact, support advocacy, inform strategic planning, and strengthen funding proposals.
The guide walks readers through each stage of the data process, including:
- Developing clear and useful data questions
- Understanding quantitative and qualitative data
- Identifying and working with existing data sources
- Gathering data through surveys, assessments, observations and other methods
- Maintaining data quality
- Analyzing and reporting findings
- Addressing ethical, legal and artificial intelligence considerations
It also includes practical examples, a glossary, additional resources, and sample survey questions for arts education programs.
The Tennessee Arts Commission encourages arts organizations, arts educators, teaching artists, and schools across Tennessee to explore this new resource and consider how stronger data practices can support program improvement, storytelling and the continued advancement of arts education.
